Update process for interface device based targeted information insertion

摘要

Advertisements or other types of targeted information are delivered to set-top boxes or other user interface devices of a signal distribution system. In one aspect of the invention, at least one multicast update comprising updated targeted information is sent to the user interface devices during a multicast update period. If a given one of the user interface devices is unable to obtain a complete set of the updated targeted information from the multicast update before timeout of the multicast update period, a unicast update comprising at least a portion of the updated targeted information is sent to the given user interface device during a unicast update period. The unicast update may be sent responsive to a request from the given user interface device for a designated portion of the updated targeted information.

主权项

1. A method of delivering targeted information to user interface devices in a signal distribution system, the method comprising the steps of:
sending at least one multicast update comprising updated targeted information to the user interface devices during a multicast update period; and if a given one of the user interface devices is unable to obtain a complete set of the updated targeted information from the multicast update before timeout of the multicast update period, sending a unicast update, comprising at least a portion of the updated targeted information, to the given user interface device during a unicast update period;
wherein a first multicast update period is used for a first group of the user interface devices and a second multicast update period different than the first multicast update period is used for a second group of the user interface devices.